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Wednesday, October 25, 2017

Sooo I'm sure you've heard of a lot of companies who do personal shopping and the like. A few months ago, I tried My Mall Box, which in essence, is like a personal shopper, but more streamlined for most of us. Unlike the usual personal shopping services here in the Philippines that you're basically talking to someone and have to coordinate everything, with My Mall Box, when you sign up, they give you a "locker space" in their warehouse, and give you that number to that locker. You essentially can order as much as you want and have it in the locker for up to 3 months, and you needn't inform anybody or contact anybody to watch out or await your order.

For this experience, I tried ordering some items from Amazon and from Colourpop. As with any other shipping service, there are pros and cons.

Tuesday, October 24, 2017

Joining the bandwagon today! Been seeing a lot of bloggers post about Rucy's Vanity, and I've of course been curious about their products. Rucy's Vanity, in essence, is a private label brand managed in the Philippines, but the products are made in Korea. If you'll try to search the Korean hashtags, and to search the Korean blogosphere, nothing comes up. But if you search English names and hashtags, sooooo many things come up and there are so many reviews from Philippine blogs.

The brand is popular for its BB Cream, powder, and lip tint, and today, I'm going to show you guys what they sent.

Monday, October 23, 2017

Oh my gulay!!!! I feel really bad for the delays in this post! I have just been so busy as of late, and mainly it's because of renovating my work room. Work room renovations mean hauling items out nonstop, and it also means not being able to use the room while paint and floor jobs commence. It's a hard time, but I'm just grateful to have work done on the room as it's not yet optimized as a work room in many aspects.

Okaaaay, so back to the original topic! These are the newer items from Silkygirl. Despite not having Philippine social media accounts, the brand has been releasing items in the Philippines steadily over the last 2 years or so. Thus far, I have seen Silkygirl at Landmark and at Robinsons Supermarkets, and there is probably a long list of other retailers that sell their products.

Sunday, October 22, 2017

Achieve healthier-looking teeth and fresher breath from day to night with Dentiste' toothpaste! It has 14 herbapeutic extracts to give complete teeth and gum protection in a safe and natural way. And, Dentiste' Whitening Toothpaste is now on Sample Room! Its replenishing Nano HAp formula whitens and strengthens the tooth enamel for that stronger, smoother, and whiter teeth! It'll also give you that fresh breath you need as it fights cavities, tartar, and plaque buildup! Get your samples today!

Sunday, October 22, 2017

Aren't these eyeshadows the prettiest?! They're now on Charis! To those who are curious, Romand is a brand formed by Saerom, a top influencer in Korea. The brand is really all about versatile products that have a transformative effect. The packaging is also to die for!!!

Saturday, October 21, 2017

Someone obviously is a fan! I ordered from Chuu a few months back, but given how busy I am, I call it recent wahaha. For today, I thought I'd share about the items I got. Chuu is a Korean female lifestyle brand, with clothes, accessories, shoes, makeup, and lingerie. It is just starting its foreign expansion, but in Korea, it's really big. I learned about this brand when I went to Charis' Beautiful Journey in Seoul last year. It's famous for its BB Cushion, nice lingerie, and its slimming jeans. We went to the flagship store in HongDae, and it was there that I received my first pair of Chuu -5Kg jeans. Chuu is very famous for their -5Kg jeans, which as the name implies, creates an illusion of losing 5Kg. You can find it on Japanese Buzzfeed actually!

I honestly just thought it was marketing because I have a reaaally big butt and thunder thighs, and it really just looks hard to look good in anything. I didn't even think I'd fit into the jeans they gave us. Since we had no time to fit, we were assisted by the sales staff, and handed the jeans in the size they thought could best fit us. Since Koreans are so thin, I thought they wouldn't fit. I remember only being able to try these on in the hotel that night, and being in awe that they fit and that they looked good on me! Instantly, you look slimmer even without trying! There is just something about the way the jeans are constructed that it creates an illusion of being slimmer. I thought it was just me, until I started getting compliments on losing weight even when I didn't lose weight, thanks to these jeans. Hence this haul.

Wednesday, October 11, 2017

If you still don't have plans for the weekend, come on down to Aliw Theater to witness this weekend's shows for Ballet Manila's Swan Lake!

It. Was. Just. Too. Good.

And hell naw! I'm not saying this coz i'm a blogger and I got free seats. The whooole theater was in standing ovation, with deafening screams of "BRAVO!" from everywhere. This is really a show you shouldn't miss. There is still a 6PM show on Oct. 14 and a 3PM show on Oct 15, and you can get tickets from Ticket World.

To those who don't know yet, Ballet Manila is the top ballet company in the country, founded by Prima Bellerina Lisa Macuja-Elizalde and Osias Barroso in 1995. From 1995 to today, the two have not only starred in so many ballet productions, but they have also nurtured the next generation of Prima ballerinas through Lisa Macuja's School of Ballet, Project Ballet Futures, and other ventures.

Swan Lake is of course a classic, and it's an honor to be selected for the dual role of Odette and Odile. For this showing, Katherine Barkman was the super mega awesome swan. I was just speechless with her performance. The technical aspects of turning from white swan to black swan, as well as the change in aura and attitude, really can only come to life through such an experienced and prolific dancer.

Wednesday, October 11, 2017

And the third (and last for now!) installment in BLK Cosmetics' lip products! Anne did hint that there are a lot of releases set for 2018, although she didn't say as to what kind of releases they were. So for now, this is the third collection from the brand that I am featuring.

This is her Velvet Lip Cream, which is a lipstick (like her all day intense matte lipstick), but differs in the sense that it's a lot like intensely pigmented lip balm instead of a lipstick per se. It's very emollient, and provides a soothing effect on cracked lips.

I am guessing that since this line has a soothing effect, and consumers will tend to swipe on a lot, Anne chose shades that lean towards natural everyday looks. Her whole lip collection is all about bringing in the pigment, and this is super super pigmented as well, that I think she made up for it by creating lighter and less intense shades. I can see myself swiping this like crazy everyday without fear of looking overtly done or trying hard.

Wednesday, October 11, 2017

And in more BLK cosmetics posts, this post is all about their All Day Intense Matte Lipsticks (Php299)! This series is the definition of matte lipstick, with a powdery formula that stays put and doesn't move a lot when applied. This is a stiffer formula compared to their Velvet Lip Cream Lipsticks, but it's still a very soft formulation as it's enriched with Vit. E and Camelia Oil. This does not set on the lips as what a liquid lipstick would do per se, but it adheres to the lips well and doesn't get off easily.

There are 6 shades available: Bubbly, Brave, Charming, Chic, Elegant, and Fearless. What I like about this collection, as well as all other BLK lip releases so far, is that the shades are deep and intense, and are very very Pinay friendly. There are none of the awkward pinks and corals that look good on only a select group of people. I see these shades looking great on all skintones.

Tuesday, October 10, 2017

Finally!!! 6 years coming and it's here now!!! Anne Curtis' passion project, her makeup brand, BLK Cosmetics, is about to make waves in the beauty industry!

Why 6 years? Well, Anne has long been known as an avid makeup lover, and she has a penchant for lipsticks. Plenty of people would often ask her what products she uses, and that's how she got the idea of influencing other people with her beauty philosophy. However, it took 6 years because there were many setbacks. There were also many established brands who wanted to do spinoff limited edition products with her, but she felt that really just wanted to have her own product line. She wanted to create a brand that she could really be the pilot of the creative direction. A brand with products that come in colors and textures she could be proud of using.

I guess it made no sense to her to make a lipstick collab with a company but the other products of the brand do not match her vision. Or the quality was not the quality she had been envisioning.

We were whisked away to Manila House Private Club the other day to be able to learn more about the brand and its products.

Friday, October 06, 2017

Finallyyyy!!! A brand in the Philippines made this! I have long been buying Japanese hair fragrances from abroad because there are times wherein when I cook, the odors of the foods I cook stick to my hair. There are also times wherein I've been out and about all day, with my hair smelling like smoke and sweat. And simply, there are days wherein I just wanna feel extra special with better smelling hair, even if I'm not fresh out of the shower. I'm so excited that Vitress launched its Hair Freshener!

According to them: "Confidently flaunt and flip your tresses anytime, anywhere with these refreshing hair care essentials from Vitress! Since our hair is more exposed to heat and smoke, it is best to take a spritz of Vitress Hair Freshener as its InstaFresh Technology instantly eliminates unwanted hair odor, leaving your locks with a refreshing, long-lasting fragrance and shine. Definitely perfect for your daily commute or just when you want to feel fresh for a dinner or girl's night out!" To add, for the ladies who smoke, you should definitely try this as well!!! In Japanese society, as far as I know, lots of girls use this to mask the odors of a cigarette break that have stuck onto the hair. In Japanese society, just like in many other societies still, there is a taboo on smoking. That's why products like this do very well in Japan. Be sure to pick up your sample from Sample Room!

Wednesday, October 04, 2017

It was the ballet that started it
all. At 14, Ballet Manila CEO and Artistic Director Lisa Macuja-Elizalde saw
Swan Lake with Prima Ballerina Yoko Morishita as the Swan Queen in all her tiny
might. The encounter ignited a spark in Lisa, inspiring her to become the
dancer and icon that she is today.

Coming from the unprecedented
success of Gerardo Francisco’s Ibong Adarna, Ballet Manila’s 22nd Performance
Season “Flights of Fantasy” soars yet again with the re-staging of Swan Lake,
the timeless ballet classic. Ballet Manila’s production is not only part of the
company’s commitment to have at least one classical ballet in every season’s
repertoire, but also a promise of brilliance and grandeur. As Lisa would say so
herself, “We have the numbers and the history which no other ballet company in
the Philippines does. Our Vaganova training has made us into the perfect
company to perform a truly world-class rendition of Swan Lake.”

The Filipina Prima Ballerina, now
training a younger generation of swans, believes that there’s only one way to
perform Swan Lake—and that is with the original Lev Ivanov choreography for the
“white acts” or the first act. Acts 2-4 will be featuring choreography by
Russia People’s Artist Sergey Vikulov and Tatiana Udalenkova, whom Lisa regards
as her second family.

Tatiana also played quite a role
in Lisa’s special relationship with Swan Lake. Lisa shares, “With my best
interest at heart, Tatiana warned me never to dance it, because in her expert
opinion, I could never be a Swan Queen given my short stature, my particular
strengths in dancing, specific style, and stage presence. When she watched my
Swan Lake many years later after graduation, she cried and declared that never
has she been so happy to be proven wrong.”

Ballet Manila’s re-staging of
Swan Lake will feature a new generation of ballerinas and danseurs. Katherine
Barkman, Abigail Oliveiro, and Joan Sia, who makes her debut as the black swan,
will be alternating the dual role of Odette/Odile, while resident guest artist
Joseph Phillips, Elpidio Magat, Romeo Peralta, Rudy de Dios, and Mark Sumaylo
will be alternating the role of Prince Siegfried.

The dual role of Odette/Odile is
probably one of the most difficult, if not the most difficult role a ballerina
to play. Lisa explains, “It not only calls for a chameleon-like change in
character – but also for extraordinary technical requirements. For Odette, you
need to be soft, pliant, and lyrical with an almost painful vulnerability. For
Odile, you need legs and arms of steel, a fiery technique, speed, and the
ability to transform into evil personified.” This demanding portrayal of the
role is definitely one to look out for by the audience.

To add to the magic, the
production will also feature the original score by Peter Tchaikovsky, which
will be played live by the ABS-CBN Philharmonic Orchestra under the baton of
Russian conductor, Maestro Alexander Vikulov of the Mariinsky Theater. The
haunting melodies alongside new sets and costumes will definitely make for a
magnificent evening.

Swan Lake’s story is one that
connects with the heartstrings of the family, as it revolves around the
universal theme of good triumphing over evil. From romance to the sheer beauty
of ballet, it is all here.

Through Ballet Manila’s rendition
of Swan Lake, Lisa hopes that the company can inspire young children to work on
their dreams too—just like how she did when she first saw the ballet.

Swan Lake goes on stage on the
following dates: October 7 and October 14 at 6:00 PM and October 8 and October
15 at 3:00 PM.

For more information about the
shows, including ticket prices and schedules, you may visit http://www.balletmanila.com.ph or follow Ballet
Manila on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Tickets are also available through
all TicketWorld outlets. Please call 891-9999 or visit http://www.ticketworld.com.ph for more
information. In addition, those who are planning to watch all the shows may
take advantage of the company’s Season Subscription Programs, which offer up to
50% discount on ticket prices. For more information, you may visit
http://www.ticketworld.com.ph/balletmanila/Online/ and click on ‘View Details’
under ‘Season Subscription Program’.

About Ballet Manila

Founded in 1995 by Prima
Ballerina Lisa Macuja-Elizalde and Osias Barroso, Ballet Manila is the
country’s premier classical dance company. Connecting both ballet and the
people, the company is well-known as the only Philippine dance company to
strictly adhere to the Vaganova Academy of Russian Ballet style of dancing,
which is well-regarded the world over as the most disciplined and
technically-superior style. The company currently has 65 artists under its
wing, all of whom have been trained in the Vaganova Academy style of dancing.
The company boasts of a solid repertoire that consists of some of the most
technically challenging and timeless ballet favorites.

The Blogger

Mari is a random human who likes cats, makeup, and having an online playground. Doll Up Mari is the place where you, ehem, doll up Mari. This is a Pinay beauty blog run by a citizen living in the Philippines who is still looking for a less grand term than Pinay Beauty Guru to refer to herself.

Mari is still figuring out how to use a management degree while drowning in kitty fur and can work part time as a PR strategist aside from her meow-my duties.